How To Get Disaster Manufactured Housing
Release Date: October 20, 2005
Release Number: 1603-099
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BATON ROUGE, La. -- The process to receive a manufactured home can seem uncertain and overwhelming. The residents of Louisiana should know the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State of Louisiana have a system to meet the needs of those displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The following information is intended to help the people of Louisiana develop a better understanding of the system.
Travel trailers and manufactured housing are considered an alternate housing option when adequate resources are not available. It is always FEMA’s priority to find alternate housing within the community first whether an apartment, house or condominium. A good source to locate available temporary housing is the Disaster Housing Resources Web site at www.dhronline.org. People can search for housing by rental price range, number of bedrooms and bathrooms and by state. Travel trailers would be considered a last option as a permanent solution is always more favorable than the temporary solution of using travel trailers as housing.
Travel trailers are available in two ways to those who meet the program criteria:
- Residents may be placed in a travel trailer on what is called an emergency group site. This is property leased by FEMA.
- For those with private property that meets certain requirements, a travel trailer or mobile home may be placed on the property.
The process for being placed in one of the emergency group sites:
- Call FEMA’s toll-free disaster assistance helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for people who are speech- or hearing-impaired and make your housing needs known. Evacuees who need an American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant travel trailer can be accommodated and should be specific about their requirements. Lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.
- A FEMA representative will call the applicant to arrange to fill out the appropriate paperwork and schedule the occupancy date.
The process for having a travel trailer or mobile home placed in private property:
- Call FEMA’s toll-free disaster assistance Helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for people who are speech- or hearing-impaired and make your housing needs known. Evacuees who need an American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant travel trailer can be accommodated and should be specific about their requirements. Lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.
- Utilities must be available at the site.
- A site inspector must look at the property to make sure it is appropriate for a travel trailer or mobile home.
- After the site is approved and permits are obtained, the travel trailer or mobile home will be delivered by a FEMA contractor.
- Once a travel trailer or mobile home is delivered, a FEMA contractor will set up the unit and schedule a time for the utility hook-up.
- When a contractor has completed the process of readying the travel trailer or mobile home for the applicant, a FEMA representative will complete the appropriate paperwork and schedule the occupancy date.
The process of applying for and occupying a travel trailer can be time consuming due to many variables. By following the outlined steps above, affected residents can better understand what must be accomplished before a travel trailer is ready for occupancy.
To register for assistance with FEMA, visit the Web site at www.fema.gov or 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for people who are speech- or hearing-impaired. If you have already registered for assistance or requested a travel trailer, it is not necessary to apply again. Applying twice will slow the process down.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover uninsured and uncompensated losses and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.
Last Modified: Thursday, 20-Oct-2005 11:30:43